Going back to school means you’re gonna have to start
packing lunches again. Yeah, it’s annoying, but it can be much healthier and
tastier than the mystery meat that’s bein’ served up in the cafeteria. So
here’s how to make an absolutely delish and awesomely healthy lunch that you’ll
totally appreciate when the bell rings at noon.

Mix Up the Meat

A lot of deli-style meats have tons of added sodium that
your bod just doesn’t need. So instead of chowin’ down on a boring sandwich for
your entree, bring cold tortellini or quinoa salad with lots of veggies, or
chicken salad with apples and raisins. Sneaking those fruits and veggies into
your main dish is a good way to get added vitamins and minerals, too.

Fresh Dessert

Instead of bringing a candy bar for dessert, add fresh fruit
to your lunchbox. It’ll be nice and sweet without adding all those empty
calories. And if you munch on an apple or grapes, the fiber will fill you up,
too, so you won’t have your stomach growling again before school lets out.

Go Green

You love salad, but not when the dressing has made it all
mushy after a few hours of sittin’ in your lunchbox. Well, you can protect the
lettuce by putting the salad dressing in a separate container. Grocery stores
sell Tupperware that comes in all shapes and sizes, so find a few really tiny
containers that’ll hold just a few tablespoons of dressing. Then you can bring
all kinds of salads for your main dishes. Just add some nuts, cheese or dinner
leftovers to change them up daily.

A Whole New World

Lots of the bready snacks we love are now made with whole
grains. So when you’re at the store shopping for lunch supplies, make sure that
your snacks are packed with that extra fiber that your bod will love, too. You
can even get whole grain bread or tortillas for your main dish to add some
healthiness there. Even better? Take a look at the ingredients list on each of
the snacks you like to stock up on, and pick and choose based on what ya
see—nix munchies piled high with preservatives and chemicals ya can’t
pronounce.

Dear Dairy

Don’t forget to throw a yogurt or a pudding cup into your
lunchbox. That’ll give your bones the calcium that they need to grow right. So
if you’re cravin’ something sweet, go for pudding. We also heart Greek yogurt
as a side dish, since it’s low in fat and super tasty.

Get Creative

Instead of buying lunchables at the store, make your own.
They’ll have less sodium and saturated fat, and you can put whatever you want
in ‘em. So shop around for your fave crackers, cheeses, fruits and lean meats.
Then pack them up in little containers, and put them together however you want
come lunchtime.